A great profile gets clients to message you. What happens next decides whether they book, and whether they leave the review that helps the next client choose you.
Here is how a booking works on ShutterMatch, step by step.
1. A client messages you
On ShutterMatch, clients start by tapping Message to Book on your profile. You will get a notification, and the conversation appears in Messages.
Reply quickly. Clients often message more than one photographer, and the first thoughtful reply has an advantage.
Use your first reply to learn what you need for an accurate quote:
- The type of session or event
- Date, start time, and how long they need you
- Location, and whether it is indoors or outdoors
- How many people will be photographed
- The style they are hoping for — clients can attach inspiration photos right in the chat
- What they need delivered, and by when
Keeping the conversation on ShutterMatch means the details, the offer, and the payment all live in one place for both of you.
2. Send a booking offer
When you are ready to quote, tap Send Booking Offer in the conversation and fill in:
- Event type — for example "Family Portrait Session"
- Start and end time
- Location
- Your price
- Notes for client — what is included, such as session length, number of edited photos, and delivery time
Before you send, the form shows exactly what the client pays and what you receive. The client's total includes the card processing fee, and your amount is your price minus the 5% platform fee.
Be specific in your notes. A clear offer gets accepted faster and prevents misunderstandings later.
3. The client accepts and pays — or asks for changes
The client sees your offer on their booking page with two choices: Accept & Pay or Decline.
If they decline, it is usually about the date, scope, or budget. Keep the conversation going, adjust, and send a new offer.
Make sure Stripe is connected before you send offers. A client cannot pay until your Stripe setup is fully complete. You can connect it from your dashboard.
4. Getting paid
When the client pays, the booking is marked paid and the funds go to your connected Stripe account. Stripe then pays out to your bank on your payout schedule.
There are no monthly fees. See How It Works to estimate your payout for any price.
5. Shoot, then deliver in the booking gallery
After the session, upload the finished photos to the booking's gallery. The client can view and download them there, so there is no need to send separate download links.
Deliver when you said you would. On-time delivery is one of the things clients mention most in reviews.
Uploading the gallery is the last step on your side. Once the photos are there, your client can view them, download them, and leave a review.
6. Earn the review
Reviews are how new photographers climb: the Browse page sorts by Top Rated by default, and profiles with ratings are listed ahead of those without.
- Clients can leave a review from their booking page once they have paid.
- ShutterMatch prompts clients to leave a review once photos are delivered, but a personal note from you is more persuasive. Thank them and ask if they would share their experience.
- Reply to every review from Reviews in your dashboard — including the less glowing ones. A calm, helpful reply reassures future clients.
Quick recap
- Reply fast and ask the questions you need to quote accurately.
- Send a clear booking offer with specific notes.
- Have Stripe connected so the client can pay right away.
- Deliver photos through the booking gallery on time.
- That upload is your last step — there is no separate button to press afterward.
- Ask for a review and reply to it.
Still setting up? Start with How to Set Up Your ShutterMatch Profile to Reach More Clients.